Practice Areas
Litigation
Tort Litigation
Civil Rights Defense
Personnel
Employment Litigation
Business/Commercial Practice
Education
J.D., University of Notre Dame, cum laude, 1985
B.A., Illinois State University, 1980
Bar & Court Admissions
Supreme Court of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Our People
Matthew A. Hurd
Partner
Matt is an experienced trial attorney with extensive experience defending governments against torts, police misconduct and civil rights claims.
Matt has an extensive background in municipal litigation and has spent his entire career as a trial attorney. Previously, he worked with the City of Chicago Law Department for almost 20 years where he headed the Tort’s Division, the Special Litigation Division, and the Federal Civil Rights Division. As head of each Division, he took over 50 jury trials to verdict, including slip/trip and falls, auto accidents, wrongful death, wrongful detention, paramedic malpractice, police pursuits, excessive force, false arrest and police involved shootings.
Matt also has experience as trial counsel in commercial, medical malpractice, civil rights and personal injury litigation.
Matt graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame Law School. While in law school, he received the American Jurisprudence Awards in Constitutional Law and Criminal Law.
Matt also has experience as trial counsel in commercial, medical malpractice, civil rights and personal injury litigation.
Matt graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame Law School. While in law school, he received the American Jurisprudence Awards in Constitutional Law and Criminal Law.
Experience
- Obtained a not guilty verdict in Gonzales v. City of Chicago, a police shooting with claims of wrongful death and civil rights violations, after a three-week trial where the plaintiff asked for $18 million dollars.
- Obtained a not guilty verdict in Burgs v. Peterson, a police shooting with claims of wrongful death and civil rights violations, after a three-week trial where the plaintiff asked for $17 million dollars.
- Obtained a not guilty verdict in Green v. Junious, alleging excessive force and civil rights violations, after a two-week trial where the plaintiff asked for $6 million dollars.
Honors & Awards
- American Jurisprudence Award, Constitutional Law
- American Jurisprudence Award, Criminal Law
- Loyola University, College of Law, Visiting Instructor, Civil Rights
